Top 8 Photography Apps for your smartphone

Remember in the days when we had to carry around a digital camera just in case there’s a photo worthy moment to snap? Ever since smartphones were invented, we’re blessed with the convenience of a 2-in-1 technology device.

You may argue that a phone camera will not be able to capture pictures as great as a digital camera. Well, here’s some photography apps that will change your mind because yes, a smartphone can definitely capture pictures as awesome as a camera.

1. VSCO
VSCO is one of the most popular photo editing app downloaded. It has a load of filters and its photo editing tools are easy to use and pretty self explanatory. There are some free filters for you to download, as well as purchasable filter packs. The filters come in different themes and moods, depending on how you like your photos to turn out. On top of that, VSCO also has a community of photographers to share their photos, and you can join in the fun as well.

2. Snapseed
If you’re a beginner or an advanced iPhone photographer, Snapseed is the one for you. It’s versatile as it can be easy for beginners to use, yet has the comprehensive tools for advanced photographers to play with. Similar to VSCO, Snapseed has filters and editing tools. Snapseed has extensive editing tools and you can do more fine photo editing with this app. Photos can be enhanced with the Tune Image tool, which allows you to adjust your photo contrast, saturation, highlights and so on. Not only that, you can remove unwanted items that appear on your photo by simply using the Brush tool.

3. Enlight
If you are thinking of editing just a certain part of your photo, perhaps, just a splash of color on the grass; or giving your photo an artistic feel by adding some filters but not on the entire photo, then Enlight is the app for you. Enlight has filters that are different than the VSCO and Snapseed apps. It provides a filter that could change your photos into a painting or a sketch. Not forgetting, Enlight has a photo blending feature that allows you to blend to photos into one artistic looking photo. Back in the days, these photo editing skills require someone with the knowledge of Photoshop, now, with apps like these, you don’t need to be a professional photographer to do that.

4. LensDistortion
Your photo is done with some tweaks and editing with the perfect filter, but it’s still missing a little touch. Perhaps just a little lens flare would make the photo pop even more. Lens Distortion gives you the added beauty and dramatic effect on your photos. You can add rain, snow, sunlight, lens flare, shimmer or glitter on your photo without looking too tacky. You can easily adjust and play with the opacity of the overlay you add. Now, when we say it doesn’t look tacky, we mean that less is more. So don’t overdo with the flares and effect and your picture will look awesome.

5. Mextures
Now, if you like creative and distorted colors in your pictures, this is the app for you. Mextures will give your photos a vintage feel. The filters in this app are leaning towards the vintage film effects and it is incredibly gorgeous. You can add grain and gradient on your photo and easily adjust it with the layers you can pile on your photo. If you like the edits on your photos, and would want to apply them on your future photos, you can save your edits as presets so that you don’t have to go through the hassle of fine tuning it all over again.

6. Facetune 2
Whether you’re taking a portrait of your wife, or just a selfie of yourself, you’d always want to tweak your face a little to look a little more photogenic. Facetune 2 is the saviour if you’re having a bad skin day and would like to get rid of the blemish on your face. If you’re looking a little pale, and want some tan, leave it to the app. Don’t have pearly whites? No pearl-blem! Facetune 2 will help you whiten your teeth and even change the color of your eyes!

7. Foodie
As the name says it all, it’s THE app if you’re taking pictures of your food. Foodie has a bunch of filters that will make your food look even more delicious than it already is. It has filters groups that cater to what food photography you’re capturing. Ranging from sandwiches, ice creams, eggs, pastries, pasta and so on. So if you’re at a barbecue and would want to take a picture of your grilled steak and burgers, select the “Meat” filter and it will make your steak look so mouth-watering delicious. Or if you’re having a margarita by the beach and want to take a picture to show off to your friends, hit the “Drinks” filter and the colors of your cocktail will pop even brighter. This app is not just limited to just food pictures, you can even use it for a selfie or a scenery picture. You just need to play around with the filters and choose which theme you like.

8. Instagram
Last but not least, and probably the most used photography (and community) app, is Instagram. Do not underestimate its filters, for Instagram was the pioneer photography app to give us filters. Remember the first few filters? Valencia, Kelvin, X-Pro II, Hefe? Back then, all pictures were heavily filtered with Instagram filters. Today, Instagram has over 20 filters and editing tools that are so easy and straightforward to use, it’s just a few hits of buttons and you got yourself a great artistic photo. Not forgetting the added bonus features of Instagram where you can add fonts, stickers and GIFs to your photos. You can do this by uploading your photo on your Instastories, then add on these stickers and so forth, and you don’t exactly have to post it up on your Instagram, you can just save them to your camera roll. Simple isn’t it? Indeed it is.

Hence, with technology moving forward day by day, a lot of things have been made simpler, convenient and fun. Try on these apps and play around and get a feel of it before deciding which is more suited to your preference. Sometimes you might need to even use more than 1 photography app to get the perfect photo. The key here is to find the mood and theme that you like and go with it.